Crew member killed in gas explosion on Australian cruise ship

A crew member has been killed following a gas explosion on an Australian cruise ship travelling in New Zealand.

Sydney-based liner, the Emerald Princess, which is operated by Princess Cruises and part of Carnival Australia, was docked in Dunedin just after 3pm AEDT yesterday when the incident occurred, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Passengers reported hearing a loud explosion and then were told of the incident via the intercom.

“There was an explosion, it was pretty loud,” Australian passenger Krystal Friggieri told the New Zealand Herald.

“All I saw then was the gas bottle spinning on the (wharf).”

The ship’s captain informed the passengers a crew member had died over the intercom.